Kulubá

Transliteration of the Mayan language has produced several spellings.

The name Kulubá has become widely used in the 21st century. An archaeologist who researched Maya sites, including Kulubá titled his first article “Culuba”, starting with the letter C and dropping the accent on the a.

According to Mayan language experts, the name Kuluba is made up of the words K’ulu’, meaning a type of wild dog, and the word ha’, meaning water, so the name of the settlement means “water of Kulu.”

The place is believed to have been inhabited between 600 and 1050.

The Mexican Archaeology magazine makes conclusions based on the research and suggests that Kulubá had interactions with Ek Balam between 600–900, sharing architectural styles from Puuc, Chenes, and Río Bec.

Starting in the 9th century, Kulubá came under the influence of Chichen Itza, as evidenced by shared style elements in ceramics, obsidian tools, and murals, marking a transition in the region’s cultural and artistic landscape.

• The first modern rediscovery efforts began in the winter of 1939 to 1940.
• In 1980, the INAH Yucatan Center began restoration.
• In 2017 and 2018, significant funds were allocated to its restoration.

Kulubá has three main architectural structures, likely residential areas for important families. Nearby, there are stone alignments, probably the remains of large wooden buildings. The site spans about 6 kilometers.

The site contains a palace, an altar, and the ruins of 2 residences.

Group C

Discovered in 1939–1940, Group C features a main structure on a 2-meter-high base, measuring 70 by 80 meters.

The Masquerade Palace, made up of six rooms, is the key building. The main frieze is lost, but the corners once had Toltec-style snakes, and the walls displayed Chaac masks influenced by Chichen Itza.

Group B

This group includes a six-room building on a platform. Its back is partly preserved, showing a blend of Puuc, Uxmal, and Chichen Itza styles. The front features Chaac masks, though not at key points like entrances.

The south side is damaged, and many facade details are lost.

Nearby is another five-room building, with a Chenes-style snake-mouthed portal and a Puuc-style base.

Group A

The best-preserved structure here has five rooms in a row, with one larger room behind the center. This layout is typical of the Chaac style. The facade is unusual, featuring a horseshoe-shaped pattern made of cladding stones.

To reach the hidden ruins, take a hard-packed dirt road that can become muddy during the rainy season, making driving difficult. This road leads to the ranches of Culubá and Emmanuel, the lands where the ruins are located.

Signage is scarce, so here’s how to get there.

On the road connecting Tizimín and Colonia Yucatán, there is a turnoff indicating the ruins. Follow this road until you pass the town of San Pedro, and a few kilometers later, you’ll find another sign pointing to Kulubá.

From this turnoff on the road, there are two kilometers to the entrance of the Kulubá archaeological site. Drive until you pass an old ruined house, and further ahead, you’ll see one of the main structures on the right-hand side.

This will get your adrenaline going, and as you smile, breathe, and think about stopping, you’ll soon see a wooden sign with nearly invisible letters indicating you’ve arrived at the Kulubá ruins.

The ranch caretaker will greet you and ask you to register, and then you can visit the site. Registration is done in a shelter that serves as both a reception area for visitors and a place to conserve some of the few pieces not taken to Mérida.

There is no entry fee unless you want to leave a tip for the caretaker.

Most likely, you’ll be alone at the site, allowing you to explore the area in complete peace. Kulubá still maintains that adventurous charm that has undoubtedly been lost by sites like Chichen Itza and Ek Balam, its neighbors.

Enjoying the place alone, alongside the birds and jungle sounds, is wonderful.